Connecting portion blocking member for a garment clip

ABSTRACT

A fabric clip for gripping a fabric includes a stationary retaining arm, a spring arm, and a connecting portion joining the spring arm and the stationary retaining arm to bias the spring arm with respect to the stationary retaining arm. A blocking member is configured to prevent the fabric, such as a garment, from contacting the connecting portion when the fabric is inserted between the spring arm and the stationary retaining arm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present invention is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/485,794 filed Jul. 9, 2003 and entitled BLOCKING MEMBER FOR A GARMENT CLIP, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to fabric clips for hanging arrangements, for example, garment clips for garment hangers.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is known to provide garment hangers with end-clips for coupling to at least a portion of a fabric article (e.g., a garment) to be displayed. In this regard, at least some of the conventional end-clips (e.g., garment clips) include stationary and moveable retaining arms, between which a portion of the garment is frictionally engaged. To maintain the garment in frictional engagement between the stationary and moveable retaining arms, a cross-bar or connecting member is arranged between the arms to bias the moveable retaining arm against the stationary retaining arm. In operation, a portion of the garment is slid between the arms, thereby causing the moveable retaining arm to bend away from the stationary arm against the biasing force produced by the cross-bar, the biasing force thereafter causing frictional engagement of the garment between the stationary and moveable retaining arms.

The conventional prior art garment clips described above may disadvantageously permit substances, such as chemicals, lubricants, and the like, to leech off the garment and onto the cross-bar. These substances may weaken the structural integrity of the cross-bar and, as such, may cause the biasing force produced by the cross-bar to lessen over time, or cause the cross-bar to completely fail under stress. This may cause the garment to slide or fall out (i.e., disengage) of the garment clip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a garment clip that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art garment clips described above. In an example embodiment, the garment clip includes a stationary retaining arm, a moveable spring arm, and an elastic cross-bar or connecting part to join the moveable spring arm and the stationary retaining arm and bias the spring arm with respect to the stationary retaining arm. The garment clip further includes a blocking member configured to prevent a garment from contacting the cross-bar after the garment is inserted into the garment clip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purposes of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred, it being understood however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention that refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first example garment clip according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2 a through 2 b show an operational sequence for inserting pieces of fabric into the garment clip of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is seen a first example fabric clip 100, for example, a garment clip 100 of a garment hanger, according to the present invention. In an example embodiment, garment clip 100 serves as an end-clip of a garment hanger 130, not shown. Garment hanger 130 can be any of the known hanger constructions, made in accordance with any of the known methods. Preferably, each end of garment hanger 130 includes an identical garment clip 100. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that hanger 130 may include, for example, a single example garment clip 100 on only one end of garment hanger 130.

In an example embodiment, garment clip 100 includes a stationary retaining arm or wall 105 and a spring arm 110 forming a garment receiving portion 112 therebetween. A cross-bar or connecting part 115 joins spring arm 110 and stationary retaining arm 105 to bias spring arm 110 with respect to stationary retaining arm 105. In an example embodiment, spring arm 110 includes a pressing member 111 carried by spring arm 110. Pressing member 111 is moveable with respect to spring arm 111 when a garment is inserted into garment receiving portion 112 between spring arm 111 and stationary retaining arm 105. Any or all of stationary retaining arm 105, spring arm 110, and connecting part 115 may be formed separately and then coupled to one another by any of the known methods. Alternatively, stationary retaining arm 105, spring arm 110, and connecting part 115 may be formed as one integral piece, for example, by injection molding, or by any of the known methods.

In an example embodiment of the present invention, a blocking member 120 extends outwardly from stationary retaining arm 105. Blocking member 120 is configured to prevent a fabric such as garment 200, FIG. 2 b, from contacting cross-bar 115 after garment 200 is inserted into garment receiving portion 112 of garment clip 100, FIGS. 2 a, 2 b. In an example embodiment, blocking member 120 is configured to terminate garment receiving portion 112 or to separate garment receiving portion 112 from cross-bar 115.

In an example embodiment, blocking member 120 is configured to prevent garment 200 from contacting at least a substantial portion of cross-bar 115. In an example embodiment, this may be construed to mean that blocking member 120 is configured to prevent garment 200 from contacting at least enough of the cross-bar 115 to prevent the fabric from having an adverse effect on the biasing function of the cross-bar 115.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, there is shown an operational sequence for inserting a garment 200 into garment receiving portion 112 of garment clip 100. Garment 200 is inserted between stationary retaining arm 105 and pressing member 111 along direction A, as shown in FIG. 2 a. The insertion force applied to garment 200 causes pressing member 111 to move with respect to spring arm 110. Depending on the size of garment 200, the insertion force may also cause spring arm 110 to displace along a direction B generally perpendicular to stationary retaining arm 105 against the biasing force produced by cross-bar 115, as shown in FIG. 2 b. It should be appreciated, however, that the insertion force may cause spring arm 110 to displace along a direction that is not generally perpendicular to stationary retaining arm 105. The biasing force produced by cross-bar 115 maintains spring arm 110 in frictional engagement with garment 200, thereby preventing garment 200 from sliding out of (i.e., disengaging) garment clip 100.

In an example embodiment, stationary retaining arm 105 and/or spring arm 110 may also be provided with gripping members 125 to better help retain garment 200 between stationary retaining arm 105 and spring arm 110. Gripping members may include any structure or mechanism operable and/or configured to help retain garment 200 between stationary retaining arm 105 and spring arm 110.

As shown in the example embodiment of FIG. 2 b, blocking member 120 is configured to prevent garment 200 from contacting cross-bar 115. If blocking member 120 were not present, garment 200 may be over-inserted into garment clip 200 and come into contact with cross-bar 115. Any chemicals, lubricants, etc., therefore, which may be present in garment 200 may contact, and leech off onto, cross-bar 115. Consequently, cross-bar 115 may fail under stress and not provide the requisite biasing force to maintain spring arm 110 in frictional engagement with garment 200. With blocking member 120, any chemicals, lubricants, etc., which may be present in garment 200, are prevented, at least partially, from leeching off onto cross-bar 115 and having the aforementioned adverse effect.

It should be realized by those skilled in the art that blocking member 120 need not be limited to use in connection with garment clip 100. Blocking member 120 may be used in connection with any of the known garment clips, made by any of the known methods. For example, garment clip 100 may be constructed from any material by any method suitable for engaging garment 200 between stationary retaining arm 105 and spring arm 110. For example, garment clip 100 may be constructed from plastic, a polymer, an elastic material, etc. by injection molding.

By way of further example, blocking member 120 can be used in connection with any garment clip that has a cross-bar or the like that functions as a biasing member to bias one structural member with respect to another. For example, blocking member 120 can be used in connection with a garment clip that does not include spring arm 111. Instead, the garment clip can be structured and arranged to include a spring arm that is similar in size to retaining arm 105. The spring arm can also include a gripping member that cooperates with a gripping member located on the retaining arm to engage a garment therebetween. In this example garment clip, not shown, a cross-bar or connecting part would join the retaining arm and spring arm to bias the spring arm with respect to the retaining arm.

It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that blocking member 120 may be constructed in any shape or configuration from any material suitable for preventing garment 200 from contacting cross-bar 115 or any like biasing or connecting member, by any method. For example, blocking member 112 may be arranged on stationary retaining arm 105, spring arm 110, and/or arranged on any portion of garment clip 100 in any way to prevent garment 200 or the like from coming into contact with cross-bar 115. Blocking member 120 may be constructed from plastic, a polymer, an elastic material, etc. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that blocking member 120 may be formed together with garment clip 100 as a single integral piece.

Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein. 

1. A clip for gripping a fabric, the clip comprising: a first arm; a second arm; a connecting portion operatively joining the second arm and the first arm to bias the second arm with respect to the first arm; and a blocking member configured to prevent the fabric from contacting the connecting portion when the fabric is inserted between the second arm and the first arm.
 2. The fabric clip of claim 1, further comprising a pressing member arranged on the second arm, the pressing member being moveable with respect to the second arm when the fabric is inserted between the second arm and the first arm.
 3. The fabric clip of claim 1, wherein the blocking member extends outwardly from at least one selected from the group consisting of the first arm and the second arm.
 4. The fabric clip of claim 1, wherein the first arm, the second arm, and the connecting portion are formed as one integral piece.
 5. The fabric clip of claim 4, wherein the first arm, the second arm, and the connecting portion are formed as one integral piece by injection molding.
 6. The fabric clip of claim 1, further comprising gripping members to help retain the fabric between the first arm and the second arm after the fabric is inserted therebetween.
 7. The fabric clip of claim 1, wherein the blocking member is formed from at least one selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a polymer, and an elastic material.
 8. The fabric clip of claim 1, wherein the blocking member, the stationary arm, and the second arm are formed as one integral piece.
 9. The fabric clip of claim 1, wherein the fabric clip is a garment clip of a hanger.
 10. A hanger for hanging a garment, the hanger comprising: a hanger body having first and second ends; and respective garment clips arranged at the first and second ends of the hanger body to grip the garment, each of the respective garment clips including: a first arm; a second arm; a connecting portion operatively joining the second arm and the first arm to bias the second arm with respect to the first arm; and a blocking member configured to prevent the garment from contacting the connecting portion after the garment is inserted between the second arm and the first arm.
 11. The hanger of claim 10, wherein each of the respective garment clips includes a pressing member arranged on the second arm, the pressing member being moveable with respect to the second arm when the garment is inserted between the second arm and the first arm.
 12. The hanger of claim 10, wherein the blocking member extends outwardly from at least one selected from the group consisting of the first arm and the second arm.
 13. The hanger of claim 10, wherein the hanger body, the first arm, the second arm, and the connecting portion are formed as one integral piece.
 14. The hanger of claim 13, wherein the hanger body, the first arm, the second arm, and the connecting portion are formed as one integral piece by injection molding.
 15. The hanger of claim 10, wherein each of the respective garment clips includes gripping members to help retain the garment between the first arm and the second arm after the garment is inserted therebetween.
 16. The hanger of claim 10, wherein the blocking member is formed from at least one selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a polymer, and an elastic material.
 17. The hanger of claim 10, wherein the blocking member, the stationary arm, and the second arm are formed as one integral piece.
 18. A clip for gripping a fabric, the clip comprising: a first arm and a second arm, the first and second arms forming a fabric receiving portion therebetween; a connecting portion operatively joining the second arm and the first arm to bias the second arm with respect to the first arm; and a blocking member configured to prevent the fabric from contacting the connecting portion after the fabric is inserted into the fabric receiving portion.
 19. The clip for gripping a fabric of claim 18, wherein the blocking member is configured to terminate the fabric receiving portion.
 20. The clip for gripping a fabric of claim 18, wherein the blocking member is configured to separate the garment receiving portion from the connecting portion.
 21. A clip for gripping a fabric, the clip comprising: a first arm and a second arm, the first and second arms forming a fabric receiving portion therebetween; a connecting portion operatively joining the second arm and the first arm to bias the second arm with respect to the first arm; and a blocking member configured to prevent the fabric from contacting at least a substantial portion of the connecting portion after the fabric is inserted into the fabric receiving portion.
 22. A clip for gripping a fabric, the clip comprising: a first arm and a second arm, the first and second arms forming a fabric receiving portion therebetween; a connecting portion operatively joining the second arm and the first arm to bias the second arm with respect to the first arm; and means for preventing the fabric from contacting the connecting portion after the fabric is inserted into the fabric receiving portion.
 23. A clip for gripping a fabric, the clip comprising: a first arm; a second arm; a biasing portion operatively connecting the second arm and the first arm to bias the second arm with respect to the first arm; and a blocking member configured to prevent the fabric from contacting the biasing portion after the fabric is inserted between the second arm and the first arm.
 24. A clip for gripping a fabric, the clip comprising: a first arm; a second arm; means for biasing the second arm with respect to the first arm; and means for preventing the fabric from contacting the biasing portion after the fabric is inserted between the second arm and the first arm. 